Pneumatic shock-absorber.



R. E. BATES.

BUMATIG SHOCK ABSORBER.

APPLICATION FILED 001215.19113.

Patented Aug. 4, 1914.

ATTORNEYS WITNESSES l. cal 'form einbodyin,{,ir the invention, such dc- .diaiiieteiz oxtinilin; r from its lower head.

.of construction, all as will be hereinafter -movablo plunger-cylinder, slidablc in the NETE@ RALYH E; BATES, 0F PHILADEIHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIG'NOR, BY lBIESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO AUTOMOBILE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, 01':` PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYL- VANIA, ACQBIOBATION 0F DELAWARE.

rairnnfr onirica.,

PNEUMATC 'QrHCK-ABSORBER.

l ,105,953. i Application med ctolbar 15, 1913. Serial No. 795,206.

'in(lers) lower end, upon which seat an upwardly-opening inlet-\'alve,-in the present instance a ball-valve, 1l,is seated- The lower end of the tubular piston-rod is reduced, as at ith-and has an external screwthread2 13, and a T-head, 14,11aving a socket, 15, in its shank, 16, is secured upon said reduced end, having a portion internall screw-threaded and said socketed shan slides in the lower end of the tubular beering of the piston-cylinder. The bottom of the socket has an axial bore, 17, communiu eating with the atmosphere through a transverse bore, 1B, through the shank, said .bores forming an air-inlet. Links, 19, are pivotally connected to the T-head and are pivotally connected at their lower ends to a. swivel, 20, pivotcd tohave transverse play in a stirriip, 21, pivotally suspended from the end of a bracket, 22, secured to the axle by the spring-clip or by any other suitable means.

A tiibulaii,` plunger, 23, axially projects from the iippcr head of the pistoncylin ler into the movable planger-cylinder of the piston-rod, and said plunger has a seat, 24, in its lower end, upon which a valve,-in the 4prevent instance a ball-valve, 25,.lias its Seat and upward play.

A plug, 26, is secured in the upper head of the piston-cylinder and closes the upper T0 all, whom/fit mail concern.'

Bc it known t iat l, RALPH E. BATES, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city andcoun'ty of Philadelphia, State o Pennrylvania, have invented a new and useful 'Pneumatic Shock-Absorber, of which the following is a specification.

My invention lconsiiitsi of a pneumatic shoclcahorber in which the movements o a vehicle in traveling will com rees air to cushion shocks cause by inequa 'ties in the road over which the vehicle travels.

'It further consists of such a device in which such compressed air is accumulate to provideiaincushionsto absorb the shocks from inequalitiesin the road and its pres sure adjusted accordin to the load carried.

It further consists o other novel features fully set forth;-

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail one mechanitail construction hempr but one of various mechanical forms inwhich the principle of the invention may be used.

, ln said annexed drawings-Figure 1 represente ,a side elevation ot as much of a spring, side-bar of the chassis and axle support of an automobile as will illustrate the application of my improved shock abi., sorbcr. ling. 2 represents an axial section 0nd ot the tubular pliingcix and said plop,r of the absorber, bus an axial bore .A'I. which communicates Similar numerals ol Areti-,rence indicato with a radial boic, 29, extending outward ihroucrlrtliehead. A\controlling!screw-valve, 22), is provided, which controls the annular passage at the angle of thil sonic, and the supply oi' air compresi-:cd by thc movements of ihn vehicle can be controlled by said valve. voi-tical passage, IlO, extends from the radial passage in the upper lil-ad of the piston cylinder tothe lower head oi' the saine, and the lower cnil oi' said passage has a corresponding parte in the figures.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral L indicates :i sido-bar ot' the chassis of an automobile, to which is secured the ii )per member, 2, ol' a springof any suitaiile or dcsircd construction, the lower ineinbor, $5, ol'.\vhich spring is soi-.ured to the axle, 4, by a clip, :'i, in the usual or any pre l'cri'cd iniinnci'.

A cvlindri', (l, is vertically secured to the end oi the sidebar to i'orin a cushion-chainber and has a tubular bearing, 7, oll smaller of ibo piston cylinder. The upper radial passage has :in opening, 3Q, which has a valvwwat, '32%, against which seats an upwui'illii olor-Ling; valve, wif-in the, present liiistancc. :i ball-'alve,-leading into the, pis ton-ryl`indci', and the ball is confined by a. suitable cago structure, 35. A valve-seat, im, is provided in the lower radial passage, and a volvi-wan thc present, instance a ball- );aIvQ, 37,is seated upon Said scat to Open An annular piston, H, is slidablo in said cyliiider to forni a movable cushion member, and has a tubular piston-rod, l), forming a tubular bearing. Said pllinger-cylinder has a val\'eseat, il), a distance 'from the lower end oi the rod and in its (the plunger-cyl radial passage, Ill, entering the lower bead 5 valve 40,- seated'agamstthe k'same and open- 19 The spring is contained 'in' a, Jsoeket, 4:4,`

2a cip'rocated, yand theieiprocationso ihepis passage te the lower end. he compressed I' 35 red and its. movable plungencylinden-'ih 55. mises n the road, the greens 'will been@ snocks` in mo'tor-propelled-y vehicles,- springs ed tons acting iii-the .amc againss atmospheric "'1 lpressure, but'sprmgs maintain the same n www i (the same9 nor-can 4the amount of pressure be greater than that caused by reduction invv volume of normal atmospheric vpressurel. lle @resent shock-absorberfwill..cushion' agfainstupwardl rebound as Well as' againsf;I 70 downward: movement of the chassis' and body, and `Will thus insure smooth riding.. y As thepston rod' does noir-have any` 'packing in the longtizbul-ar bemind' of the pis# ton-cylinder', air :can leak out' etween v said 75- rodjand bearing'to blow away anyaecumuu lations oi?- Vdust uoon che ypision-rod, and lcompressed aircan'leak outer the cylinder into thel lowerend of :che piston-eyhnder, and is confined by a cage-structure, 38.

' A valige-seat, 39, is provided in the lower endof the Vertical-passage 3 0, 'and has a ingldownward and a casing' secured around said seat and- 'jconzainsi a plunger,

42, and 21j-spring?,v 43j. -becrin ;g: einst saidv lplunger @o force thesemejagnxnsi; the lvalve'. "threaded in-the'casing to 'controi' the prs# sure of .the spring lanni,.- -consequently the prlessure of "the.. plunger aga-Jnsi: the ball Vave;

when the vehicle is not running.'

f 'oiher'ms Oif'splyweee principi@ :of c my I m'ento may' be employed for-tha mode@ both vends. of the piston-cylinder contain air un erynormel atmospheric pressure.' N As soon as-gthe vehicle is started Aand menemeni o'f the' axle is musei-gehe piston-rod-.-.s 'retionA set forth, respectiyelygin che followngfgeclaims are employed. I I zHaving thus described my invention, wheel: claim as new and desire to, secure by Les? ters Patent, is:- l. A shoclcabsorber, comprising a cylina der, a piston mounted to reciprocate therein. an air compressing element comuectedA with' the cylinder, a second airconipressing cle. ment connected Wiii the pision ao nieve therewith and coperaiing with. the rsi'f Sie closed, pi'ovidedjbei prmciplesof coijxstru@ ton-rod will 'cause'thefstatlonary plunger to draw inair throughffthe lower end migihe piston-rod through the' intake of the c 1 -'oss` head of the same :and compress suclrair, 25 sending the same'through the passage in' the head of the pistenicylinderto the upper end."ofthne'latter'a-nd throu h the vert-ical air in' the ends-of the piston'fcylinder will so'check anda'bsorb any sudden shocksy imf.,

partedto the axle, 'cushioningthe ySame, and the `more obstructions are met; in the road by the wheels of the vehicle and tl 1e n1ore v reciprocations are thus caused to thefpishonsifles 0f the pismn 2. A shook-absorben. comprising a cylin- -der', a piston "mounted to reciprocate herein, and compressed Ainto the endsy of t 'an oir compressing element; conneced with ton cylinder', in which the Ashcckscaused by the-cylinder; a second air compressing cle-- e n meeting?,l obstnuotionswill bevme and .cushment connecied with the piston to move 4c ienedb the air thuscmnpressedl and in-y .therewith and coperating withl the rsfeic a creasing y4v compnessed according to the" named aircompressing elementy .means of.' 7

roughness of the' road. The compression of ail-'can 'beconiarolled bythe valve 2 9, Yand more air will be drawn into such ciyhnder compressing element and the ends of the cyli inder upon opposie sides of the sion,` and i 2L adjustable means for regulatingt eairpresl of the plunger 'dgagainst the ball-valve40, sure of the coperating air compressing' i 'So thacsaid Valve will blow oil.' surpluspree .elements sure Whenever' a' pressure A.exceeding the 1 -A shock absorber, comprising a cushion.'

predetermined cushioning* .pressure is atchamber, a cushion member mounted therein i 5 0 tained.' There will be no more than amos- -on'e movable witlrrelationto the other, an 11e i pherie pressure ini'he pistonfcylinderwhich airacpmpress'in device comprising an eley cushions the movement ofthe axleyunless mcntfconneete with the cushion chamber,

' and a' .second-element connected with the, i "cushion memberyand means ci' communice` l i i i i l i i i .tionlhecvgeen the aircompressingdevice 'and lim the vehicle' i's'niom'mgf',A and che greater .the movement of the vehicle is, owing toiiz'egucushioning pressure.

In earlier devices intended =for absorbing the cus n'membci, A

` "1 4i Aishocknbsorber, comprising a cushion chamber and a cushion member in the seme? 'one of said members movable 1n its relacion 3.25

have been employ Lor cylnclersfand pis- ,be connected to a rigid and a :novel/legere of Y f sure is limited to the amount 'of eol'npressionl c acting at; the moment and is not accumu- 65 lated in accordance with the demands upon a vehicle, an air-compressing device swing 'its members respectively cqnnecied te sind cushioning me bers and commanicaizinfgv 'we with said cushion chamber at opposite sides of said cushion member,

and means for 5. A shock-absorber comprising a istoncylinder, a lpiston reciprocable in saic cylinder and having a plunger cylinder, said cylinder and rod each adapted to be connected to a rigid a movable part of a opening valvein said plunger-cylinder, av

tubular rod forming a heine vehicle, an .inwardly `tubular plunger in said plungene'ylinder and secured in the head of said cylinder, an

inwardly opening valve in the end of said plunger, a duct communicating with the in* terior of said plunger the piston-cylinder, of said duct and ope cylinder.

6. A shock-absorber, com

cylinder, a piston reci der and having a tu plunger cylinder, being each and a movable part of said cylind adapted to be and with the ends of and valves at the'. ends ning into the pistonrising a` piston roca le' in said cylinular rod forming a er and rod connected to a rigid a vehicle, an inwar ly opening valve in said plunger-cylinder, a tubular plunger in said plunger-cylinder and secured in the head of said cylinder, an

inwardly o ening valve in the plunger, a

terior of said plunger der, and an adjustab end of said uct communicatinglwi'th the inand wi the ends of valves at the ends of into the piston-cylin le valve 1n said duct adapted to control the same.

T. A shcclcabsorber cylinder, a piston reciproca tubular rod forming a der and havlng a com rising a pistonle in said cylinplunger cylinder, said cylinder and rod helng each adapted to b and a movable part of e connected to a rigid a vehicle, an inwardly opening; valve in said plunger-cylinder, a

tubular plunger in said plungercylinder and secured in the head of said cylinder, an

`. inwardly opening val plunger, a duct comm ve in the end of said unicating with the in- Vterior of said plunger andwith the ends of tubular. plunger 1n said plunger-cylinder le in said cylina to he connected to arri 'id andsecured in the head of said cylinder, u ,n

'inwardly opening valve inthe end of sai plunger, a chiot communieatin with the interior of said plunger and wit ,the ends of the piston-cylinder,

said duct and opening into the piston-cylinder, an outwardly openno' spring-presse valve in said duct, means For adjustm the spring-pressure against said valve, an un adjustable valve in said duct adapted to `control the airpassage through the same.

9. A shock absorber, com der provided at its lower en with a reduced tubular bearing, a piston mounted to reciprocate within the cylinder, a tubular piston rod connected with the piston'and passing through the tubular hearingl and outwardly beyond the .same with its interior in. comvalves at the ends of" rising a cylinmunication with the atmosphere, an upinder.

RALPH E. BATES.,

Witnesses:

Jos. G. DENNY, Jr.,

Ansnnv yH. Fox. 

